Summer clarity
Traveling truly gives you clarity. Clarity of thought for the work that you do and also for your as a person. You see things from miles away and everything you fuss about right before you send your automated annual leave email seems so small and usually ridiculous.
During the last month I gained some perspective. I realized truly that need to focus. I need to focus on the work that matters. Also as a recovering micromanager and workaholic I need to know and trust and believe that leaders lean into their role when I take a step back. And the biggest myth of all, that everything breaks down when you are not around is never true. It simply waits for you to come back or resolves itself by itself.
I read a great book called the surrender experiment by Michael Singer which I highly recommend about learning to let go, say yes and trusting in the process. And I trust in the process. And I surrender truly to what comes.
Travel gives you space. Headspace to innovate and dream and get excited about being creative again. And after that 4 years of pregnancy, birth, having a baby, starting a podcast, and creating a whole other company and raising investment for that company I was ready for some much needed time off.
I won’t say I don’t have travel blues because I do. But calls with my co founders and one empty - sh inbox later and I feel like I am getting into the swing of things.
Transiting back from holiday mode to work mode is not easy. I took my time organizing, categorizing and keeping track of the tasks I need to do. I took a break to meditate and breath after going through three email inboxes and +700 emails and I split my work day into two chunks to spend time with my son. I am being kind to myself and will pick up the pace in the next few days. I am aware of my breathing more and I am bringing back my journaling and my morning routine.
I think the most important thing is to keep focused on what matters, my kew KPIs and making sure I surrender to the process and do the best that I can and to breathe.
If you are not able to get away some of my staycation hacks are
Taking more frequent shorter breaks off (one day off in a week every few weeks to get an extended weekend)
Staycations still and always win
Nearby discovery trips to countries that don’t require flying for me its discovering Khobar and Ithra which is a short ride away
Waking up early to take an hour to yourself
Sun, beach, and some good ice cream over the weekend
Walk away from family obligations or commitments for a while and take time to be selfish and self care which to me is a form of self love